Docker containers exit because they are designed to run a single primary process, which is specified either by the CMD or ENTRYPOINT in the Dockerfile, or by the command provided at runtime.
Reasons why a Docker container might exit include main process completion, failed health checks, process termination, empty or invalid command, and lack of a foreground process.
Running an infinite loop in a Docker container or using the tail -f command on a file such as /dev/null can keep a container alive by maintaining an active process.
Allocating a TTY or using the sleep infinity command are additional methods to ensure containers stay running in Docker Compose.
Verification of container status can be done using commands like docker ps, docker logs , and docker exec -it /bin/sh.
This article provides strategies to keep Docker containers running in scenarios where no long-running service is present, beneficial for debugging sessions or development environments.
Techniques discussed include simulating interactive sessions, executing indefinite sleep states, and using infinite loops to maintain container uptime.
Overall, understanding how Docker containers function and implementing appropriate strategies can ensure containers remain active when orchestrated with Docker Compose.